# informal

/ˌɪnˈfɔɹməɫ/ (US) · /ɪnfˈɔːməl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/informal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. casual style or dress

adjective · CEFR A2

relaxed and comfortable, rather than official or serious.

For teachers: characterised by a relaxed style or manner; suited for everyday use rather than official ceremonies.

- The party is informal, so you can just wear jeans and a t-shirt.
- The company maintains an informal dress code to foster a more creative and approachable atmosphere among the staff.

### 2. language or register

adjective · CEFR B1

using everyday words that you would use with friends, not in a serious essay.

For teachers: denoting a style of writing or speech characterised by common words, contractions, and a conversational tone.

- In an informal email to a friend, it is okay to use slang.
- While the presentation was professional, the speaker used an informal tone to build a quicker rapport with the audience.

### 3. unofficial or unstructured

adjective · CEFR B2

not following official rules or a fixed plan.

For teachers: not conducted according to official regulations or structured procedures.

- We had an informal meeting in the hallway to discuss the new project.
- The two leaders held an informal discussion over dinner, away from the rigid protocols of the official summit.

## Examples

- The party is informal, so you can wear jeans.
- We had an informal meeting over coffee to discuss our ideas before the official presentation next week.
- While the written report required a professional tone, the team maintained an informal atmosphere during their brainstorming sessions to encourage a free exchange of creative concepts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.